The taxable values used in developing the estimate of tax collections total $9.8 million, a 6.4 percent increase over last year. The maintenance and operating portion of the tax rate will remain at $1.04 per $100 of valuation.

The district's estimated collection rate is 98.2 percent, which is consistent with prior budgets.

• District allocated budgets, including technology, the purchase of new buses, capital projects and campus growth budgets totaling approximately $1.4 million have been reduced in this year's budget.

• In June, the school board approved a step-increase pay raise for teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians and diagnosticians of $630,000.

• Campus budgets are up $21,475 because of enrollment growth. Department budgets are increasing $333,134 due to an increase in the fuel budget.

• An increase of only 12 full-time staff is proposed at the campus level to address the opening of Indian Springs Elementary School and the school board's decision to increase student-to-teacher ratios at the elementary and middle school levels.

“It is important to show our public how we're operating to gain trust and to show we are truly maximizing every penny,” said Andrew Kim, Comal ISD superintendent. “The bottom line is to show how it is improving student performance.”

The tax rate being proposed is unchanged from last year. The maintenance and operations portion of the rate, which pays for general operations of the district, including salaries, is proposed to be $1.04 per $100 valuation.

The proposed school debt service tax, approved by voters through bond elections and paying for bonded indebtedness, is 39 cents per $100 valuation. The total tax rate is $1.43 per $100 valuation.

The school board heard an update on enrollment projections and housing activity by Kari Hutchison, assistant superintendent for administrative services.

Most dramatic, Hutchison said, is the increase in first quarter housing starts of 31 percent over last year. Annually, Comal ISD records 833 housing starts, more than North East ISD, one of the state's largest school districts, which records about 793 annual starts.

Future inventory is another strong indicator of what Comal ISD can expect in terms of enrollment growth, she noted.

According to Templeton Demographics, the district's demographer, future inventory is nearing 21,000. This compares with North East ISD's future inventory of 5,200.

“Demographics drive two things, our facility needs and our budget,” Hutchison said. “Given the time of year, this is a good time to review.”

The school board voted 6-1 to postpone the purchase of 1,100 iPads for classroom teachers. The purchase would be with funds from the 2008 bond.

Board members say they plan to revisit the administration's recommendation at the Aug. 28 meeting.

Sandra Shelton, Comal ISD chief technology officer, told the board the that iPads are “true teaching tools above and beyond what a computer can do at this point. Desktops are becoming obsolete.”

“There are multiple benefits to having the iPad in the hands of our teachers,” Shelton added. “While our students are way ahead in utilizing this, we want our teachers to get ahead as quickly as possible.”